Through-feed machines for treating sheet materials



Jan. 6, 1959 H. PHILLIPS 2,867,109

THROUGH-FEED MACHINES F OR TREATING SHEET MATERIALS Filed Jan. 17, 1957 8 Sheets-Sheet l fnzzenzor Harry Phi (la 0.: By his/1 izfornqy Jan. 6, 1959 H. PHILLIPS 09 THROUGH-FEED MACHINES FOR TREATING SHEET MATERIALS Filed Jan. 17, 1957 s Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 6, 1959 H. PHILLIPS 2,857,109

THROUGH-FEED MACHINES FOR TREATING SHEET MATERIALS Filed Jan. 17, 1957 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 Inventor Harry Phil/6,05

By his Attorney H. PHILLIPS THROUGH-FEED MACHINES FOR TREATING SHEET MATERIALS Filed Jan. 17, 1957 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 In men for Harry P/zzllzps By his Azzqr'n eg Jan. 6,1959 I H. PHILLIPS 2,867,109

THROUGH-FEED MACHINES FOR TREATING SHEET MATERIZALS Filed Jan. 17, 1957 i 6 'llllllllllllllllilll lllll 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Haw/y Phillips By his Attorney Jan. 6, 1959 H. PHILLIPS 2,867,109

THROUGH-FEED MACHINES FOR TREATING SHEET MATERIALS Filed Jan. 17, 1957 8 Shepts-Sheet 6 Inventor- Harry Phi/lips By his Attorney Jan. 6, 1959 H. PT-IILLIPS 2,867,109,

THROUGH-FEED MACHINES FOR TREATING SHEET MATERIALS Filed Jan. 17, 1957 a Sheets-Sheet 7 Jan. 6, 1959 H. PHILLIPS 2,867,109

THROUGH-FEED MACHINES FOR TREATING SHEET MATERIALS Filed Jan. 17, 1957 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 [1711 e ntor Harr Phi/lips By 1788 flzzor-ney United States Patent THROUGH-FEED MACHEINES FOR TREATING SHEET MATERIALS Harry Phillips, Hamilton, Mass, assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. l, a corporation of New Jersey Application January 17, 1957, Serial No. 634,779

15 Claims. (Cl. 69-42) This invention relates to improvements in machines for treating sheet materials such as hides, skins and leather, and more particularly to a through-feed machine of the type disclosed in U. S. Patent No. 2,637,193, granted May 5, 1953 on an application filed in the names of Donald B. McIlvin and Arthur R. Abbott. The term through-feed machine is used in the above patent and in the present application refers to a machine capable of performing a complete operation on a work piece of sheet material during a single passage of the workpiece through the machine. In the field of tanning the novel and useful aspects of the present invention are applicable for unhairing, glazing, putting-out, fleshing and other operations.

In the tanning industry it is common practice for each of a number of machines to perform a given operation on one half of a work piece after which the operator is required to reverse the work piece end for end before recycling the machine to complete the treatment by presenting the remaining half of the work piece to the action of rotating work treating rolls. This reversal and recycling consumes considerable time and effort on the part of the operator and for this reason the machine of the above patent was developed.

The machine herein disclosed as the preferred embodiment of the invention is provided with two sets of constantly driven cooperating rolls. Each set of rolls is adapted to act on different portions of the work piece and comprises a work treating roll, a bed roll movable between open and closed positions relative to the treating roll, a fixed feed roll and a feed pressure roll movable between open and closed positions relative to the fixed feed roll. The machine disclosed in the above patent has a generally similar arrangement of rolls but despite its advantages has certainshortcomings all directed to the control of a work piece when first introduced and as it is passing through the machine. For example,

when initially introduced to the machine by the operator,

some work pieces tend to become wrapped around the feed rolls with a resultant mutilation of the work piece and disabling of the machine. Other work pieces fail to be discharged properly by the feed rolls after being treated. Since the work treating rolls are bladed and are rotating at a relatively high speed an air turbulence is formed which tends to draw light work pieces into the treating roll before control can be established by the bed and feed rolls.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved through-feed machine which avoids the above difficulties and which automatically provides complete control of the work piece before and while it is passing through the machine.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for preventing wrapping of the work piece around the feed rolls as it is fed thereby. To this end a grating, comprising a plurality of spaced plates, is tangentially mounted between the feed rolls of the machine for stripping the work piece therefrom.

2,867,109 Patented J an. i 6, 1959 A further object of the invention is to provide means for spreading the work piece into a flat condition before it arrives in the work treating zone of the machine. To accomplish this, and in accordance with a feature of the invention, a closing plate is provided with a resilient strip adopted to spread and press the work piece against a work supporting surface over which consecutive work pieces are presented, the plate being movable from an open to a closed position when the machine is closed.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, each work treating roll is provided with a shield which prevents premature engagement of the work piece with the treating roll when the work piece is first presented to the open machine. When the machine and the rolls therein are closed, the shield is arranged to be moved to expose the treating roll so the work piece may be presented thereto by the bed roll.

According to another important feature of the invention the shield and the grating combine to form a generally closed face against which the work piece can rest without effective engagement with the feed or treating rolls when the Work piece is first presented to the open machine.

Another feature of the invention resides in means for controlling the power operated closing of the rolls in such manner that the final portion of the closing movement is sharply accelerated. In this manner the feed and bed rolls are able to establish firm control before the work piece can be snatched by the rapidly rotating treating roll.

These and other important features of the invention will now be described in detail in the specifications and thereafter particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a perspective view of a machine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a view of the left-hand end of the machine with the casing broken away to disclose the means for driving the rolls;

Fig. 3 is a view of the right-hand end of the machine with a portion of the casing broken away to disclose the power operatedmechanism;

Fig. 4 is "a sectional view in elevation through the center of the machine; a

Fig. 5 is a sectional view substantia'lly along the line Fig. 6 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale showing the upper set of rolls in closed position;

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing the lower set of rolls also in closed position; 7

Fig. 8 is a diagrammatic illustration of the electrical circuits controlling the fluid pressure system of the machine; and

Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic illustration of the fluid pressure system for opening and closing the rolls of the machine. Y

The frame of the machine illustrated in the drawings comprises two vertical end casings 12' and 14 (Fig. '1) which are rigidly joined together at thebase portions thereof by two structural members 16 (Fig. 4). Toadd rigidity to the assembly a tubular member 18 extends between and is secured to the inner walls of the end casings. For further structural support a heavy tank 20 extends between and is firmly bolted to the rear faces of the casings.

For carrying-the bladed work treating rolls and the fixed feed rolls, the machine is provided with a front frame 22 which at its lower .end is pivotally mounted on two pins 23 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4) carried by lugs 24 on the front faces of the end casings 12 and 14. The frame 22 is normallysecured in the position illustrated in the drawings by bolts 26 passing through the upper 3 portion of the frame at opposite ends thereof and threaded into the front faces of the end casings. The frame 22 comprises two end plates 28 and 30 which are rigidly joined together by a structural member 32 and a guide member '34. The guide member not only serves as a stiffening member for the frame but also serves as a guide for two emery brick bars 33 and 35. These brick {bars are conventional devices used for sharpening blades on machines of the type herein illustrated and accordingly they are not described in detail since they form no part of the present invention. Between the plates 28 and 30 are located two bladed work treating rolls 36 and 38 (Figs. 4 and 5) which are journaled in bearings 40 and 42, respectively, in the plates 28 and 30. Located somewhat rearwardly but between the treating rolls are two feed rolls 44 and 46 which are also journaled in the plates 28 and 30 in bearings 48 and 50, respectively. The plates 28 and 30 also carry therebetween a casing 52 (see also Fig. 4) which covers a portion of the upper treating roll 36 and forms a work supporting surface 54 over which consecutive work pieces may be presented for treatment by the machine instrumentalities. It should be here noted that for purposes of inspection and repair the bolts 26 may be removed to allow the frame 22 to be swung about the pins 23 to a horizontal open position where any one of the rolls 36, 38, 44 and 46 may be inspected or removed without substantially dismantling the machine.

The upper bladed work treating roll 36 is provided with a shaft (Figs. 2 and 5) which extends through the plate 30 and the associated bearing 40 and has fixed thereto a flywheel 72 and a toothed pulley 74. For driving the roll 36, the pulley 74 is connected by means of a toothed belt 76 to a pulley 78 fixed to the shaft of a motor 80 mounted on the top of the end casing 12. The lower bladed work treating roll 38 is provided with a shaft 82 (Figs. 3 and 5) which extends through the plate 28 and the bearing 42 and has fixed thereto a flywheel 84 and a toothed pulley 86. For driving the roll 38 the pulley 86 is connected by a belt 88 to a pulley 90 secured to the shaft of a motor 92 mounted on the top of the end casing 14. Since under normal operation of the machine the motors 80 and 92 are running continuously, the work treating rolls are therefore continuously rotating in the directions indicated in Fig. 4.

The motor 80 is also provided with a pulley 94 (Fig. 2) which through a toothed belt 96 drives a flywheel pulley 98 (shown in phantom only in Fig. 2) pinned to a stub shaft 100. The stub shaft is journaled in a bracket 102 secured to the inner wall 104 of the end casing 12 and also has fixed thereto a gear l06'which is in driving engagement with a gear 108 rotatably carried by a stub shaft 110 also journaled in the bracket 102. Integral with the gear 106 is a sprocket which by means of a chain 122 is drivably connected to a sprocket 124 fixed to a shaft 126 which is journaled in the wall 104, extends through the machine and is journaled in the inner wall 128 of the end casing 14. Keyed to the shaft 126 adjacent the sprocket 124 is another sprocket 130 which by means of a chain 132 drives a sprocket 134 keyed to a stub shaft 136 also journaled in the wall 104. Also keyed to the shaft 136 is a sprocket 138 which through a chain 140 drives a sprocket 142 fixed to a shaft 144 extending from the lower feed roll 46.

The driven gear 108 is provided with an integral sprochet 146 connected by means of a chain 148 to a sprocket 150 fixed to a shaft 152 which is journaled in the wall 104, extends through the machine and is journaled at its opposite end in the wall 128 of the end casing 14. At the outer side of the wall 128 (see Fig. 3),, the shaft 152 has secured thereto a sprocket 154 which drives a sprocket 156 by means of a chain 158, the sprocket 156 being keyed to a stub shaft 160 journaled in the wall 128. Also keyed to the stub shaft 160 is a sprocket 162 which through a chain 164 drives a sprocket 4 166 keyed to a shaft 168 extending from the upper feed roll 44. Through the above-described mechanism, the motor 80 continuously drives the upper work treating roll and the upper and lower feed rolls 44 and 46, while the motor 92 continuously drives the lower work treating roll 38.

For presenting the trailing end of the work piece to the action of the upper work treating roll 36, the machine is provided with an upper rubber covered bed I011 (Fig. 4) which is journaled on the lower ends of two arms 192, 193, the left-hand arm 192 (Fig. 2) being mounted for oscillation on the shaft 136 and the righthand arm 193 being similarly mounted on a shaft 194 (Fig. 3) which extends from the inner wall 128 of the end casing 14. For progressively feeding the work piece downwardly past the upper work treating roll 36, the machine is provided with a pressure roll 196 which cooperates with the upper feed roll 44 for holding the work piece in feeding engagement therewith. The pressure roll 196 is journaled in the lower ends of two arms 198, 199, the arm 198 (Fig. 2) being adjacent to the arm 192 and journaled on the same shaft 136, the arm 199 (Fig. 3) being adjacent to the arm 193 and also journaled on the shaft 194. a

For moving the rolls 190 and 196 into and out of operative or closed relation with the rolls 36 and 44, respectively, the arms 192 and 198 (Fig. 2), carrying the left end of the rolls, are individually connected to a lever 211 by yieldable connections 219, the arms 193 and 199 (Fig. 3), carrying the right end of the rolls, being individually connected to a lever 210 by identical yieldable connections. The levers 210 and 211 are fixed to opposite ends of a shaft 212 which extends through the machine and which is journaled in the walls 104 and 128 of the end casings. Each one of the four yieldable connections 219 comprises a rod 214 (Fig. 4) secured to a pin 215 in its associated arm 192, 193, 198 or 199, the upper end of the rod freely passing through a pin 216 in its associated lever 210 or 211 and having at its upper end a out 218 which bears on the upper side of the pin 216. A spring 220 at its upper end bears against a collar 222 in front of the pin 216, the spring at its lower end being confined by a flanged nut 224 threaded on the rod 214 and secured in adjusted position by a lock nut 225. Thus it is apparent that when in closed position adjacent the rolls 36 and 44, the rolls 190 and 196, respectively, are each capable of independently yielding rearwardly against the action of the springs 220.

The lever 210 (Fig. 3) is connected by means of a piston rod 226 to a piston 228 of a double acting cylinder 230 which is pivotally mounted at its lower end to a bracket 231fixed to the wall 128 of the end casing 14. The upper end of the cylinder is provided with a pipe 240 which, for closing the upper rolls, admits fluid above the piston 228 to swing the lever 210 and hence also the lever 211 downwardly thus causing the rolls 190, 196 to be moved into closed positions. The lower end of the cylinder is provided with a pipe 242 which at this time allows fluid to escape from the cylinder to allow the piston 228 to be moved downwardly. For limiting the downward movement of the lever 210 and for thus also determining the clearance between the rolls 190 and 36 and the rolls 196 and 44, a stop screw 280 is adjustably threaded into the lever 210 and is adapted to engage an eccentrically mounted stop 282 carried by a rod 284 (Fig. 3) rotatably mounted on the wall 128. The rod 284 at its opposite end and outside the casing 14 has fixed thereto an arm 286 (Fig. 4) carrying a spring pressed detent 288 adapted to enter any one of a plurality of detent holes 290 formed in a plate 292 secured tothc outer face of the end casing 14. Thus it may be seen that by varying the position of the arm 286, the position of the eccentric stop 282 is also varied for adjusting the closed position of the upper bed and feed rolls.

The bed roll 190 is provided with ashaft 300 -(Fig. 3) which extends through the arm 193 and has secured thereto a sprocket 302 driven by a sprocket 304 through a chain 386, the sprocket 364 being mounted for rotation on the shaft 194. Integral with the sprocket 304 is another sprocket 368 of larger diameter which is driven through a chain 318'by a sprocket 312 fixed to the shaft 126 which, as previously described, is continually driven from the motor 88. Thefeed pressure roll 196 is provided with a shaft 320 (Fig. 2) which extends through the arm 198 and has fixed thereto a sprocket 322. The sprocket 322 is driven by a. sprocket 324 by means of a chain 326, the sprocket 324 being fixed to the shaft 136 which, as previously described, is continually rotated to drive the lower feed roll 46.

For presenting the leading or lower end of the work piece to the action of the lower work treating roll 38 a rubber covered bed roll 336 is mounted for rotation on the upper ends of a pair of arms 338, 339 (Figs. 2, 3 and 4), the arm 338 (Fig. 3), being mounted at its lower end for oscillation on the shaft 168 and the arm 339 (Fig. 2), being mounted similarly on a stub shaft 340 carried by the wall 104. The bed roll 336 is provided with a shaft 342 (Fig. 2) which extends through the arm 339 and has fixed thereto a sprocket 344. The sprocket 344 is driven through a chain 346 by a sprocket 348 which is mounted for rotation on the shaft 340 and has another larger sprocket 350 integraltherewith driven through a chain 352 by a sprocket 354 fixed to the shaft 152, the shaft 152 as previously described, being continually driven by the motor 88. For holding the lower end of the work piece against the lower feed roll 46, a feed pressure roll 360 is mounted for rotation on the upper ends of a pair of arms 362, 363 which at their lower ends are mounted adjacent the arms 338, 339 for oscillation on the shafts 340 and 168, respectively. The roll 368 has an extension shaft 364 (Fig. 3) which extends through the arm 363 and has fixed thereto a sprocket 366. For driving the roll 360 the sprocket is connected by a chain 367 to a sprocket 368 fixed to the shaft 160 which, as previously mentioned, is driven from the shaft 152 through the sprockets 154, 156 and the chain 158.

For moving the rolls 336 and 360 into and out of closed or operative relation with the rolls 38 and 46, respectively, the arms 338 and 363 (Fig. 3) carrying the right end of the rolls are individually connected to a lever 382 by means of yieldable connections 388, and the arms 339 and 362 (Fig. 2) carrying the left end of the rolls are similarly and individually connected to a lever 383. The levers 382 and 383 are fixed to opposite ends of a shaft 386 which extends through the machine and is journaled in the Walls 184 and 128. The lever 382 (Fig. 3) is connected by means of a rod 384 to a piston 380 of a double acting cylinder 376 which is pivotally mounted at its upper end to the bracket 231. The cylinder 376 is provided at its lower end with a pipe 396 which admits fluid at the proper time to raise the piston 386 and hence to cause closing of the lower rolls. The cylinder is also provided with another pipe 398 for exhausing fluid from the upper end of the cylinder during the upward movement of the piston. To limit the upward movement of the-levers 382 and 383 and hence also to determine the closed positions of the lower rolls, the lever 382 is provided with stop screw 480 which engages an eccentrically mounted stop 482 when the rolls are in closed position. For adjustment, the stop 402 is carried by a rod 484 extending through the end casing 14- and has fixed thereto an arm 486 (Fig. 4) which is identical to the upper stop adjusting arm 286 and which is adjusted in a similar manner.

Prior to the automatic operation of the machine, the operator places a work piece W such as a hide over the casing 52 (Fig. 4), with approximately one-half of the hide depending from the casing to the rear of the rolls 36, 38, 44 and 46. At this time the upperand lower bed rolls 190, 336 and the upper and lower feed pressure rolls 196 and-360 are in the open positions as illustrated in Fig. 4. Since the work treating rolls 36 and 38 are bladed and are rotating at a relatively high speed,

an air turbulence is created which, especially on light work pieces tends to draw the work piece into premature engagement with the rolls. If the workpiece is allowed to engage the rolls 36 or 38 before the work piece can be controlled by the bed rolls 190, 336 and the feed pressure rolls 196 and 360, the work piece is likely to be snatched by the rolls with resultant mutilation. To avoid this, the machine is provided with a movable shield 420 which, in the position illustrated in Fig. 4, shields the exposed portion of the roll 36 between the end of the casing 52 and the feed roll 44. The shield 420 comprises an arcuate member 422 (Figs. 5 and 6) which extends the length of the roll 36 and has at opposite ends thereof flanges 424 which are secured to arms 426. The arms 426 are mounted for oscillation upon reduced portions 428 at opposite ends of the roll 36 and are connected by links 430 to the upper bed roll carrying arms 192 and 193. When the bed roll 190 is moved from its open position, as illustrated in Fig. 4, to its closed position, illustrated in Fig. 6, the shield 420 is swung upwardly by the links 436 to expose the treating roll 36 and allow the bed roll 190 to press the work piece against the-treating roll.

To prevent premature engagement of the lower or leading end of the work piece with the lower treating roll 38, another shield 438 (Figs. 5 and 6) carried by a pair of arms 446 is arranged to cover the exposed portion of the roll. The arms 440 are pivotally mounted on the inner sides of the 'walls 184 and 128 by means of studs 442 and are provided with irregular cam slots 444 which are arranged to receive pins 446 carried by the arms 338 and 339. By comparison of Figs. 6 and '7, it is apparent that in the open position of the lower bed roll 336 the pins 446 acting on the slots 444 maintain the shield 438 in its upper position to prevent engagement of the work piece with the roll 38. When the bed roll 336 is moved to its closed position, as seen in Fig. 7, the movement of the pins 446 acting on the slots 444, causes the shield to swing downwardly about the studs 442 to expose the treating roll 38 and allow the bed roll 336 to present the work piece to the actionof the treating roll. To counterbalance the weight of the lower shield, the right-hand arm 440 (Fig. 4) -is provided with a rearwardly extending arm 450 pivotally connected to an upwardly extending rod 452 which at its upper end passes freely through a hole in a bracket 454 secured to the wall 128. A spring 456 on the rod extends from the underside of the bracket to a nut 458 threaded on the rod and tends to urge the arm 450 downwardly with a force adapted to counterbalance the'weight of the shield.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, it will be noted that'the feed rolls 44 and 46 are provided with a-pluralityof shallow grooves 478, the grooves in one roll being alined with the grooves in the other as may be seen in Fig. 5. Adapted to fit in the alined grooves are a plurality of plates 472, each plate having diverging arcuate surfaces shaped to fit snugly against the bottoms of its asociated grooves in the rolls 44 and 46. Each of the plates is also provided with a flat edge 474 which extends vertically between the rolls and substantially tangent to the peripheries thereof. Each plate is provided with a rod 475 extending forwardly through slots 476 in a bracket 478 which extends between and is secured to the end plates 28 and 30 of the front frame 22. 'Each rod is provided with a spring 482 which at one end rests against the bracket 478 and at the other end bears against a retaining nut 480.on the rod. Thus each spring acts on its associated rod and plate to maintain the plate in close engagement with the bottoms of the grooves in the rolls 44 and 46. As may be observed in Fig. 5, the

plates are arranged in spaced parallel relation in sufficient number substantially across the length of the rolls 44 and 46 to form a grating to prevent passage of a work piece forwardly between the rolls. In this manner the work piece is stripped by the grating from engagement with the feed rolls.

Work pieces such as untreated hides, when presented to the machine are uneven as to size and shape and have many bulges and wrinkles therein. For proper treatment, the work pieces must be presented to the work treating rolls in a generally flat condition to avoid multilation or uneven treatment of the surface thereof. To this end means are provided to smooth and spread the work pieces as they are successively fed over the work supporting surface 54, such means including a closure plate 488 (Fig. 6) which is mounted for swinging movements on a tubular shaft 490 journaled at opposite ends in the walls 104 and 128. The shaft 490 is provided at one end with a rearwardly extending arm 492 which is connected by a link 494 to a bracket 496 fixed to the rearward side of the upper bed roll carrying arm 193. The lower end of the plate is provided with a flexible strip 498 of resilient material such as, felt or rubber. Referring to Fig. 6, when the bed roll 190 is moved forwardly to present the work piece to the action of the treating roll 36, the closure plate 488 through the arm 492, the link 494 and the arm 193 is swung forwardly until the resilient strip 498 engages the work piece on the work supporting surface 54. In this manner the work piece is spread out and flattened by the resilient strip and thereafter is fed to the upper bed roll and the treating roll in flat condition.

For initiating the automatic cycle of operations, the machine is provided with a starting handle 500 (Figs. 1 and 6) which comprises a cup-shaped grip 502 mounted on the upper end of a lever 504 which is fulcrumed mid-way of its ends on a shaft 506 carried by lugs 508 on the rear side of the closure plate 488. The lower end of the lever is provided with a roll 510 which extends across the machine parallel to the work supporting surface 54. The grip 502 is provided with an adjustable screw 512 adapted to engage a switch button 514 of a normally closed switch 516 secured to a bracket 518 mounted on the rearward side of the plate 488. A spring 520 fixed at one end to the lever 504 and at its opposite end to the bracket 518 urges the lever in' a counterclockwise direction to a position limited by engagement of the screw 512 with the switch button 514 when the closure plate is in its open position as seen in Fig. 4. Thus when the machine is in its inactive or open condition the screw 512 holds open the contacts of the switch 516. After properly positioning a work piece on the surface 54 the operator moves the handle 500 forwardly to start the automatic operation of the machine thus moving the screw 512 away from the switch button 514 allowing the switch contacts to close. Closure of the switch initiates operation of the fluid system of the machine to cause the upper rolls 190 and 196 to be moved to their closed positions thereby also causing the closure plate 488 to swing forwardly to its closed position where the flexible strip 498 engages the work piece on the work supporting surface 54. In this position of the plate the roll 510 engages the work piece to maintain the lever 504 in a position in which the screw 512 is out of contact with the switch button 514 to allow the switch contacts to remain closed.

The fluid system for opening and closing the upper and lower sets of rolls in automatically controlled sequence is diagrammatically illustrated in Fig. 9. As therein ilustrated, all movable elements of the system are shown in initial positions adapted to maintain the rolls in open position. Fluid is supplied to the system from a tank by a pump P through a pipe 530 at a pressure controlled by a relief valve 532. The pipe 530 conducts the pressurized fluid to a pipe 534 leading to a sequence valve 536. The sequence valve is provided with a spring 546 which normally maintains a spool 538 against a shoulder 548 in the valve block. In this position of the spool the valve directs fluid from the pipe 534 to a pipe 550 which conducts the pressurized fluid to a valve 554 and a valve 560. The valve 554 is designed to allow fluid to flow freely through the valve past a spring loaded gate in the direction ofthe arrow thereon. However, the valve is also designed to restrict the flow of fluid in a direction opposite to the arrow by means of a needle valve 601 therein. Thus the pressurized fluid flows through the valve 554 without restriction to the pipe 240 leading to the lower end of the cylinder 230 thereby maintaining the piston 228 in its raised position. In this position of the piston the upper set of rolls is maintained in open position as illustrated in Fig. 3. The pipe 550 also conducts the pressurized fluid to the valve 560 which is similar to the valve 554 and which allows fluid to fiow through the valve without restriction in the direction indicated by the arrow thereon to the pipe 398 leading to the upper end of the cylinder 376. The pressurized fluid in the upper end of the cylinder maintains the piston 380 in its lowered position thereby also maintaining the lower set of rolls in open position.

In addition to supplying fluid to the sequence valve 536 the pipe 530 also conducts fluid to a port 566 of a solenoid operated valve 568. The valve 568 is provided with a spool 570 having at one end thereof an armature 572 which is received in a coil 574. The spool is provided with intersecting bores which form a passageway to a chamber 580 in the lower end of the valve. In the position illustrated in Fig. 9 the valve spool is in its initial position where the passageways in the spool communicate with an exhaust port 582 which by means of a pipe 584 leads to the tank 20. Another port 586 leads from the chamber 580 of the valve to a pipe 588 which leads to a chamber 590 in the valve 536. In the position illustrated, the spool 570 closes off the port 566 and allows communication from the pipe 588 to the exhaust pipe 584, thus exhausting any fiuid pressure in the chamber 590. The valve 536 is also provided with a pipe 592 which when the spool 538 is in its initial position is in communication with an exhaust port 594 leading to an exhaust pipe 596 connected with the tank 20. The pipe 592 leads to a pipe 598 which is in communication with a valve 600, another sequence valve 602, and a ball check valve 640 leading to a valve 626. The valve 600 leads to the pipe 242 in the upper end of the cylinder 230 while the valve 626 leads to the pipe 396 in the lower end of the cylinder 376 both valves 600 and 626 being similar in construction to the previously described valve 554. In this manner the upper end of the cylinder 230 and the lower end of the cylinder 376 are in communication with the exhaust pipe 596 through the valve 536 for a purpose which will subsequently appear.

When the starting handle 500 is actuated by the operator, the contacts in the switch 516 (Fig. 8) are closed thus closing a suitable electrical circuit to energize the coil 574 of the solenoid operated valve 568. As illustrated in Fig. 8, the normally closed switch 516 comprises two sets of contacts one of which is included in a circuit leading from a line wire L, through the solenoid coil 574 to a line wire L1. The line Wires L and L1 are connected to a suitable source of electrical energy not shown. The other set of contacts of the switch 516 leads from the line wire L through a coil 604 of a time delay unit 605 to the line wire L1. An armature 606 in the coil 604 has attached thereto a plunger 607 having a cam surface adapted to close a normallyopen switch 608 when the coil 604 is energized. The switch 608 controls a holding circuit which maintains the coil 574 energized as long as the switch 608 is held closed. The end of the plunger is received in a bore 609 of a dash 628 in the valve.

9 pot, the end of the bore being vented from atmosphere by means of a ball check when the plunger is partly withdrawn from the bore. When the coil 604 is deenergized upon opening of the switch 516, .a spring returns the plunger at a rate controlled by an adjustable needle valve 611, the ball check then being effective to prevent direct escape of air from the bore. By proper adjustment of the needle valve the return of the plunger can be delayed to delay opening of the switch contacts 608 for any required interval of time. Energization of the coil 574 upon closure of the switch 516 causes the valve spool 570 (Fig. 9) to shift to its upper position closing off the exhaust port 582 and allowing communication through the valve from the pipe 530 to the pipe 588. Fluid under pressure is conducted through the pipe 588 to the chamber 590 of the valve 536 causing the valve spool 538 'to be moved to the left against the action of the spring 546 until the left end of the spool engages a shoulder 610 of the valve block. In this position of the spool, the valve 536 directs fluid from the pipe 550 to the exhaust pipe and also directs pressurized fluid from the pipe 530 to the pipe 592 and the .pipe 598. The pipe 598 conducts fluid under pressure to the valve 600 which is adapted to allow the fluid to flow unrestricted in the direction of the arrow thereon to the pipe 242 and into the upper end of the cylinder 230. As the pressurized fluid flows into the upper end of the cylinder, the piston 228 is forced downwardly thereby forcing the fluid in the lower end of the cylinder through the valve 554 in a direction opposite to the di rection of the arrow thereon at a restricted rate controlled by the needle valve 601. The piston 228 is moved downwardly at a controlled rate until the stop :screw 280 (Fig. 3) on the lever 210 engages the stop 282 and the upper set of rolls are in closed positions. As previously mentioned, the pipe $98 also conducts fluid to the valve 602 which is provided with a valve spool 612 received in a bore 614 and has at its lower end a portion of reduced diameter 616 which is received in another bore 618 in the valve. A passage 620 con- :ducts fluid from the pipe 598 to the bore 618 so that the spool 612 is urged upwardly by the fluid pressure in the pipe 598. The valve 602 is also provided with a spring 622 which is arranged to urge the spool 612 downwardly in opposition to the fluid pressure in the bore 618. The spring 622 is so adiusted as to urge the spool downwardly with a force greater than that exerted initially by the fluid pressure in the bore 618. However, after the upper rolls have moved into their closed positions and further movement of the piston 228 is prevented, the fluid pressure in the pipe 598 rises. The pressure in the bore 618 then becomes great enough to overcome the force exerted by the spring 622 causing thespool 612 to rise and allow communication from the pipe 598 through the valve to a pipe 624. The pipe 624 conducts the pressurized fluid to the valve 626 which is adapted to allow fluid to flow unrestricted in the direction of the arrow through the valve to the pipe 396 in the lower end of the cylinder 376. Admission of fluid to the lower end of the cylinder causes the piston 380 to rise, forcing the fluid in the upper end of the cylinder through the valve 560 opposite to the direction of 'the arrow thereon at a rate controlled by a needle valve The fluid flowing through the valve is conducted by the pipe 550 through the valve 536 to '%the exhaust pipe 596. In this manner as the piston 380 rises, the lower rolls are closed at a relatively slow rate controlled by the needle valve 628. During the closing movement of the lower rolls, the shield 438 (Fig. 7) is moved to expose the lower treating roll 38. Since the lower end of the work piece is easily drawn by air tur- 'bulence toward the roll 38 when it is exposed,.it is essential that, near the end of the closing movement, the rolls close quickly to establish .feed roll control over the work piece before it can be prematurely drawn into engage- 10 tment with the treating roll. To this end a valve 629 is provided to by-pass the valve 560 from the pipe 398 to the pipe 550. The valve 629 is provided with a spool 630 which has an extension carrying a roll 632. The roll is adapted to engage a cam 634 fixed to the shaft 386 (see also Fig. 3). As the lever 382 is swung upwardly by the upward movement of the piston 380 during the closing movement of the lower rolls, the cam 634 raises the spool 630 near the end of the closing movement of the lever. In its raised position the spool 630 directs fluid from the upper end of the cylinder 376 through the valve 629 thus by-passing the valve 560 thereby allowing the fluid to exhaust freely from the upper end of the cylinder "and allowing the lower rolls to move quickly to their closed positions.

After closing on the work piece, the upper and lower sets of rolls act on both ends of the work piece to treat all portions thereof. When the trailing edge of the work piece W (Fig. 7) is fed beyond the Work supporting surface 5 5, the roll 510 on the lever 504 is moved to the right by the spring 520 causing the screw 512 to engage the switch button 514 and cause the switch 516 to open. Opening the switch deenergizes the coil 604 (Fig. 8) but the coil 574 remains energized as long as the switch 608 remains closed. Th switch 6% remains closed until the plunger 607 returns to its initial position allowing sufficient time for the trailing end of the work piece to be fully treated. As soon as the switch 608 is opened the coil 574 is deenergized allowing the spool 570 (Fig. 9) to return to its initial position as illustrated in Fig. 9, closing off' the pipe 530 and allowing the chamber 590 of the valve 536 to exhaust through the valve 563. The spring 546 thereupon returns the valve spool 538 to its initial position against the shoulder 54? causing the valve 536 to exhaust the pipe 598 and to direct pressurized fluid from the pipe 530 to the pipe 550. The fluid in the upper end of the cylinder 230 thereby is allowed to exhaust at a controlled rate through the valve 600 and the fluid in the lower end of the cylinder 376 is allowed to exhaust throughthe valve 626 and the check valve 640. It should be here noted that when the valve spool 538 returned to its initial position thereby exhausting the fluid in ihe pipe 598, the pressure in the chamber 618 of the valve 602 was also exhausted allowing the spool 612 to return to its closed position closing off the pipe 624 thereby making the check valve 64% effective. Since the pipe 550 at this time is pressurized, fluid is conducted unrestricted through the valve 554 to the lower end of the cylinder 230 causing the piston 228 to rise and return the upper set of rollsto their open positions at a rate controlled by a needle valve 642 in the valve 660. Fluid is also conducted through the pipe 550 and the valve 560 to the upper end of the cylinder 3'76 causing the piston 380 to move downwardly at a rate controlled by a needle valve 644m the valve 626. In this manner the upper and lower rolls are opened simultaneously after the work piece has been completed and all the elements of the hydraulic system are returned to their initial positions as illustrated in Pig. 9.

Referring to Fig. 7, .as the work piece is being treated simultaneously by the upper and lower treating rolls, the intermediate treated portion of the work piece is progressively discharged toward the rear of the machine between the feed pressure rolls 196 and 360. As the work piece is discharged, a guide 656 extending across the width of the machine and fixed atopposite ends to the arms 363 and 362 conducts the work piece depending from the roll 360 to an arcuate guide 658. The guide 658also extends across the width of the machine and is secured at its opposite ends to the inner walls 104 and 128 and leads the work piece to a constantly driven outfeed conveyor 660. Referring now to Fig. 6, it will be seen that the guide 658 also functions as a guard to prevent engagement of the leading end of the work piece with theconveyor when the work piece is first .introduced to the machine. With normal handling the leading edge of the work piece should depend between the shield 438 and the guide 658 but due to careless handling it is possible for the work piece to be deposited on the upper surface of the guide. For this reason the lower end of the guide 656 is arranged to sweep across the upper surface of the guide 658 when the arms 362 and 363 carry the feed pressure roll 360 into its closed position. In this manner the work piece is moved into its proper position to be treated regardless of careless handling.

The out-feed conveyor 660 (Figs. 2 and 6) is inclined upwardly toward the rear of the machine and comprises a wide belt 662 which extends across the width of the machine and which is provided with a plurality of spaced transverse ribs 690 to prevent slippage of the work pieces as they are transported by the belt. The belt is supported at its lower end by a roll 664 journaled in the lower ends of two inclined frames 661 secured to the inner walls 104 and 128 of the end casings 12 and 14, respectively. The upper and rearward end of the belt 662 is carried by a driven roll (not shown) journaled in the upper ends of the frames 661. For driving the conveyor belt, the stub shaft 110 (Fig. 2) extends inwardly through the wall 104 and is provided at its inner end with a sprocket 672 which through a chain 674 drives another sprocket 676 fixed to a shaft 678. The shaft is rotatably mounted in a lug 680 secured to the rear face of the end casing 12 and has fixed thereto a pulley 682 which through a belt 684 drives theupper roll of the conveyor. Since the shaft 110 is continually driven during normal operation of the machine the conveyor, through the pulley 686 and the upper roll, is also continually driven to transport completed work pieces out of the machine.

In the normal operation of the machine the motors 80 and 92 are operated continuously to rotate all'the rolls in the directions indicated in Fig. 4 and to drive the pump P. The pump P constantly supplies fluid under pressure to the valves 536 and 568 (Fig. 9) to maintain the elements of the hydraulic system in the positions illustrated. The valves direct the pressurized fluid in such a manner that the piston 228 of the cylinder 230 is maintained in its highest position to hold the upper bed roll 190 and the upper feed pressure roll 196 in their open positions (see Figs. 3 and 4) and the piston 380 of the cylinder 376 is held in its lowest position to maintain the lower bed roll 336 and the lower feed pressure roll 360 in their open positions. To prepare for the automatic operation of the machine, the operator inserts the leading end of the work piece W in the opening formed between the closure plate 488 (Fig. 4) and the rearward end of the surface 54 and drapes the center portion of the work piece on the surface so that the leading end depends therefrom to the rear of the treating roll 36, the feed rolls 44 and 46 and the lower treating roll 38. The upper rolls 190, 196 and the lower rolls 336, 360 are held in their rearward or open positions and the shields 420 and 438 prevent engagement of the work piece with the upper treating roll 36 and the lower treating roll 38, respectively. Since the feed rolls 44 and 46 are counter rotating in the directions indicated in Fig. 4 there is a tendency for the rolls to grip the work piece loosely and thereby tend to urge it forwardly between the rolls. However, the stripper plates 472 form a grating to prevent effective gripping at this time.

To initiate the automatic operation of the machine, the

operator pulls the starting handle 500 (Fig. 6) forwardly whereupon the switch 516 is closed thereby causing the 12 The valve 536 also directs fluid to the sequence valve 602 both to the bore 614 and to the chamber 618, the fluid pressure however being insuflicient at this time to operate the valve thus blocking the fluid at the valve 602. As the movement of the piston 228 in the cylinder 230 swings the rolls 190 and 196 forwardly into closed positions, the shield 420' (Fig. 6) is moved clockwise to expose the roll 36. The work piece is thereupon fed downwardly by the rolls 196 and 44 while the bed roll 190 presses the work piece against the treating roll 36, As soon as the upper rolls are closed, stopping the movement of the piston 228, the fluid pressure in the system rises sufliciently to operate the sequence valve 602 thereby directing fluid to the lower end of the cylinder 376 through the valve 626, the fluid in the top of the cylinder being exhausted at a rate controlled by the needle valve 628 of the valve 560. By controlling the rate of exhaustion from the cylinder 376 the closing of the lower rolls is delayed for a time interval suflicient for the treated portion of the trailing end of the work piece to arrive at the lower treating roll. In this manner the lower rolls are closed on a treated portion of the work 'piece to insure complete treatment of the center portion thereof. As the lower rolls approach closed position, the pins 446 (Figs.

6 and 7) act on the slots 444 to swing the shield 438 down, to expose the lower treating roll 38, and the earn 634 (Fig. 3) on the shaft 386 operates the by-pass valve 628 allowing the end of the closing movement of the lower set of rolls to be sharply accelerated. At the end of the closing portion of the machine cycle the rolls have assumed the positions illustrated in Fig. 7 and the leading end of the work piece is being fed upwardly by the feed rolls 360 and 46 while the bed roll 336 presses the work piece against the lower treating roll 38. At the same time, the upper feed rolls 196 and 44 are feeding the trailing end of the work piece downwardly while the bed roll presses the work piece against the upper treating roll 36. The treated portion of the work piece is discharged rearwardly between the feed pressure rolls 196 and 360 and is thereafter guided by the guides 656 and 658 to the upper run of the out-feed conveyor 660. As the work piece is fed along the work supporting surface 54, the roll 510 on the lower end of the starting handle lever 504 rests on the work piece to insure that switch 516 remains closed.

As the trailing end of the work piece is fed beyond the work supporting surface 54, the roll 510 moves forward so that the starting handle 500 is swung counterclockwise by the spring 520 to open the switch 516 thereby deenergizing the coil 604 (Fig. 8) and commencing operation of the electrical time delay unit 605 which delays opening of the switch 608. 'While the opening of the switch is delayed, suflicient time elapses for the leading and trailing ends of the work piece to be completely treated. When the switch is allowed to open upon return of the plunger 607, the coil 574 is deenergized causing the valve 568 (Fig. 9) to exhaust the chamber 590 of the valve 536 allowing the spool 538 to be returned to its initial position against the shoulder 548. The valve 536 thereupon exhausts the upper end of the cylinder 230 through the valve 600 at a rate controlled by the needle valve 642 and also exhausts the lower end of the cylinder 376 at a rate controlled by the needle valve 644 in the valve 626, the fluid at this time passing freely through the check valve 640. At the same time, the valve 536 directs fluid through the valve 554 to the lower end of the cylinder 230 to raise the piston 228 thereby opening the upper set of rolls and also directs fluid to the upper end of the cylinder 376 through the valve 560 to cause the piston 380 to move downwardly thereby opening the lower set of rolls.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a machine having a working zone for treating sheet material, a pairof rotating feed rolls between said zones, said rolls having a plurality of alined annular grooves in their peripheries, and a plurality of plates arranged between said rolls and disposed in said grooves for forming a grating substantially tangent to said rolls for preventing passage of a work piece between said rolls.

3. In a through-feed machine having separated working zones for treating different portions of work pieces of sheet material, a pair of rotating feed rolls between said zones, said rolls having a plurality of alined annular grooves in their peripheries, and a plurality offiat plates, each having arcuate faces in opposite edges thereof adapted to engage the bottoms of said alined annular grooves, each of said plates having a straight edge extending between said arcuate faces and between said rolls substantially tangent to the peripheries of said rolls. 4. In a through-feed machine having separated work ing zones for treating different portions of work pieces ofsheet material, a pair of rotating feed rolls between said zones, said rolls having a plurality of alined annular grooves in their peripheries, and a plurality of flat plates, each having diverging edges connected by a straight edge, said diverging edges being disposed between said rolls and in oppositely alined grooves in said rolls in such man ner that the straight edge extends between, and is substantially tangent to, the peripheries of said rolls, whereby said plurality of plates prevents passage of a work piece between said rolls.

5. In a through-feed machine having separated working zones for treating different portions of work pieces of sheet material, a pair of rotating feed rolls between said zones, said rolls having a plurality of alined annular grooves in their peripheries, a plurality of fiat plates, each having diverging edges connected by a straight edge, said diverging edges being disposed between said rolls and in oppositely alined grooves in said rolls in such manner that the straight edge extends between, and is substantially tangent to, the peripheries of said rolls, whereby said plurality of plates prevents passage of a work piece between said rolls, and yielding means for maintaining said plates in intimate contact with the bottoms of said grooves.

6. In a through-feed machine having separated working zones for treating different portions of work pieces of sheet material, a pair of rotating feed rolls between said zones, said rolls having a plurality of alined annular grooves in their peripheries, a plurality of flat plates, each having diverging edges connected by a straight edge, said diverging edges being disposed between said rolls and in oppositely alined grooves in said rolls in such manner that the straight edge extends between, and is substantially tangent to, the peripheries of said rolls, whereby said plurality of plates prevents passage of a work piece between said rolls, and yielding means acting independently on each plate for maintaining said each plate in intimate contact with the bottoms of its associated grooves in said rolls.

7. In a through-feed machine for treating sheet material, such as hides and skins, a casing presenting a worksupporting surface over which spread-out work pieces may be consecutively presented, said surface extending above a work-treating zone of the machine, means for feeding each of said work pieces along said surface and through said zone as the leading edge thereof depends from said surface, and means cooperating with said surface for resiliently engaging the work piece across .14 its width, whereby the work piece is spreadout as it is fed along said surface.

8. In a through-feed machine for treating sheet material, such as hides and skins, a casing presenting a work-supporting surface over which spread-out work pieces may be consecutively presented, said surface extending above the work-treating zone of themachine, means for feeding each of said work pieces along said surface and through said zone as the leading edge thereof depends from said surface, and a closing plate movable from an open position spaced from said casing surface to a closed position adjacent said surface, whereby, when the plate is in open position, a work-receiving slot is formed, and when in closed position, the plate yieldingly presses the work piece against said surface for spreading the work piece before it is presented to said work treating zone.

9. In a through-feed machine for treating sheet material, such as hides and skins, a casing presenting a worksupporting surface over which spread-out work pieces may be consecutively presented, said surface extending above the work-treating zone of the machine, means for feeding each of said work pieces along said surface and through said zone as the leading edge thereof depends from said surface, a closing plate movable from an open position spaced from said casing surface to a closed position adjacent said surface, and a strip of resilient material carried by said closing plate for engaging and pressing a work piece across its width against said surface when said plate is in its closed position.

10. In a through-feed machine for treating sheet material, a work treating roll, a casing covering a substantial portion of said roll, a bed roll movable from an open position spaced from said treating roll to a closed position for presenting a work piece to the action of said treating roll, a shield covering the exposed portion of said treating roll when said bed roll is in open position, and means operative in response to the movement of said bed roll to said closed position for moving said shield to expose said work treating roll.

11. In a through-feed machine for treating sheet material, such as hides and skins, a work treating roll, a bed roll movable from an open position to a closed position for pressing a work piece into engagement with said treating roll, power operated means for moving said bed roll between its open and closed positions, means controlling said power operated means for determining the rate of closingmovement of said bed roll, and means for rendering said control means ineffective to control said power operated means thereby causing acceleration of said power operated means upon arrival of said bed roll at a predetermined position relative to said treating roll.

12. In a through-feed machine for treating sheet material having a plurality of sets of driven cooperating rolls, each set including a work treating roll, a bed roll movable between inoperative and operative positions relative to said treating roll, a fixed feed roll and a movable feed roll movable between operative and inoperative positions relative to said fixed feed roll, a shield associated with each work treating roll for covering an exposed portion thereof when said movable rolls are in inoperative positions, said shield being movable to expose the work treating roll in response to movement of the movable rolls to their operative positions, and a grating including a plurality of spaced plates arranged between the fixed feed rolls of said sets of rolls, said shields and said grating when said movable rolls are in inoperative positions forming a substantially closed face against which a work piece can rest without effective engagement with said rolls.

13. In a machine having a working zone for treating sheet material, a feed roll for feeding a work piece through said zone, and means for stripping the work piece from said roll comprising a plurality of spaced plates, each arranged substantially perpendicular to the axis of the feed roll and an edge diverging therefrom substantially tangent to the periphery of the roll.

14. In a machine having a working zone for treating sheet material, a feed roll for feeding a work piece through said zone, and means for stripping the work piece from said roll comprising a plurality of spaced plates, each arranged substantially perpendicular to the axis of the roll, each plate having an edge shaped to fit against the feed roll and an edge diverging therefrom substantially tangent to the periphery of the roll, and yielding means for maintaining the shaped edges of said plates in of rotating feed rolls arranged between said Zones and a grating extending between and substantially tangent to said rolls comprising a plurality of spaced plates each arranged substantially perpendicular to the axes of said rolls and shaped to fit between said rolls against the peripheries thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 156,652 Salford Nov. 10, 1874 747,411 Gay et al Dec. 22, 1903 1,209,737 Lund Dec. 26, 1916 1,586,100 Meyer May 25, 1926 

